Maui Community Correctional Center remains under lockdown after inmate disturbance

Authorities are responding today to an inmate “disturbance” at the Maui Community Correctional Center in Wailuku.

UPDATE: 7:30 A.M.

Maui Community Correctional Center remains on lockdown this morning after inmates allegedly started a small fire inside the facility Monday.

Prisoners reportedly broke some fire sprinklers in one of the modules and started a fire at approximately 3 p.m. The module housed 94 inmates.

MCCC was put on lockdown, which is standard procedure, said spokeswoman Toni Schwartz of the Hawaii Department of Public Safety.

Maui police and firefighters arrived at the scene.

Schwartz said correctional staff and Maui police brought the disturbance under control shortly before 6:30 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

DPS will conduct an internal investigation and Maui police have initiated a criminal investigation.

MONDAY, 9:45 P.M.

A disturbance by inmates in a module at the Maui Community Correctional Center has been brought under control.

“At approximately 6:26 p.m. MCCC correctional staff went into the module and brought the disturbance under control. Maui Police assisted,” Toni Schwartz, Hawaii Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, said in an email sent at 6:50 tonight.

Schwartz said no staff or inmate injuries were reported but everyone was checked out by facility medical staff as a precaution. Damage to the module will be assessed.

Inmates from the module are in the process of being questioned. The Department of Public Safety will conduct the internal investigation.

There are 94 inmates housed in the module.

“I’m very thankful the incident was not more serious,” Maui Mayor Victorino said in a release. “Mahalo to our adult correctional officers and Maui police for getting the situation under control very quickly.”

Some inmates sustained smoke inhalation, he said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Authorities were responding to a “disturbance” by inmates in a module of the Maui Community Correctional Center Monday afternoon, Hawaii Department of Public Safety officials said.

Inmates started a small fire in the module and broke fire sprinklers, Toni Schwartz, DPS spokeswoman, said in an email sent shortly after 4:30 p.m.

Just over an hour later, Schwartz sent out an update saying, “It is still an active situation. Correctional staff with the assistance of Maui police are working towards a peaceful resolution. Many inmates voluntarily came out of the module but there are still some holdouts.”

Fire personnel were also at the prison, at 600 Waiale Road in Wailuku, she said.

“Be safe and please don’t enter the area,” he said. “Safety is paramount.”

The mayor’s office said the incident was first reported around 3 p.m.

Click here to see our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. Submit your coronavirus news tip.

Comments (1)

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines.